Ready to wear

November 6, 2006

Intermediate with Tiz

1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare and lead double (or single) hammerlock turn (clockwise stationary) for follower with leader turning full counterclockwise to end with L-R behind leader’s R waist and R-L reconnected behind follower’s R waist – end position is like at the end of low cross pass
1,2,3,5,6,7 Copa with L-R released and 1 1/2 counterclockwise traveling turn for follower with R-L connected and with leader turning half counterclockwise and end with R-L above leader’s R shoulder
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and lead follower into 1/2 clockwise traveling turn (Cuban walk) keeping R-L high
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break showing free L to make L-R connection as follower is brought in like Copa with L-R going over around from (leader’s) R side and R-L kept low – lead follower straight back on 4 to lead follower back on 5,6,7 as leader releases R-L and turns clockwise (1 1/2 to 1 1/2) and moving into follower’s previous spot to get L-R behind to get into end of low cross pass position
1,2,3,5,6,7 reconnect R-L, prepare and lead follower into double stationary clockwise turn

1,2,3,5,6,7 L-R hold and lead follower into 1 1/2 traveling counterclockwise turn with free R hand ending on upper back of follower
1,2,3,5,6,7 lead follower forward and around leader from his L side on 1,2,3,4 and lead follower into 1/2 clockwise traveling turn on 5,6,7,8 – so follower is walking around leader in counterclockwise manner ending essentially where she started - at all points leader stays facing the same direction throughout – it could help for leader to do an accommodating steps for follower so that she doesn’t have to travel as much in my opinion (this would involve doing a crossover step to R with L foot on 1 and a crossover step to L with R foot on 5)
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break and get into CBL position and lead follower into 2 1/2 clockwise traveling turn switching to R-R (follower has started turning a little by 3 (3 is a good spot to switch to R-R) with leader also turning while traveling (preferentially simultaneously with follower during her final turn) to face same direction while staying to her L side – R-R kept relatively high (above leader’s R shoulder)
1,2,3,5,6,7 open break bringing R-R over and connecting with L-L in front and then also getting L-L over as well and letting go R-R (like a series of windmill) to lead follower into 1 1/2 clockwise traveling turn with follower’s L hand ending behind her R waist and leader turning clockwise and switching to R-L
1,2,3,5,6,7 offer L for L-R and open break and into Copa position with L-R going over and leader moves into follower’s previous position with 1/2 counterclockwise turn
1,2,3,5,6,7 prepare and lead follower into double turn (stationary clockwise) – I don’t think there was any more after this although this leaves things dangling a little … I tried doing 1/2 counterclockwise turn and trying a couple of positions with connections going over leader’s head and down to either neck level or waist level, etc.

Most of the moves are similar to ones I already use using same principles yet they offer variations and different possibilities. I should think these should be easy to incorporate into my repertoire.

It was somewhat quite night by the Monday standard for the club part of the evening. The main floor was very sticky early in the evening but became fine by the end of the evening. Music was pretty good. My dancing was probably a little on the wild and energetic side (but without any collisions) – possibly a leftover from the Scala or perhaps overcompensating for having more energy than I did at the Scala.

One of the highlights was a trio of dances involving Aiste. I noted her dancing first with Rajiv. This among other things inspired me to ask her for a next dance, which I enjoyed – pretty energetic and with only one noticeable miscue. Her next dance was with Joe; I don’t think I have seen Joe dance with Aiste – at least not for a very long time. Their dance was on-2 and was notable for a lot of spinning by both Joe and Aiste. It was one of the more watchable dancing (social or performance) I have seen in a while. Spontaneity and improvisation mixed with a little mistakes here and there showing slightly rough and not practiced to death look yet still looking spectacular and fun – I think it’s great.

I think it all might have been inspired in part by a comment made by Vishal – possibly a game of one-upmanship.

I felt hungry throughout. In fact I have been hungry all the time since Saturday afternoon. Too much exercise this weekend probably made me lose weight. Hopefully I can get back to my lazy (or lazier) routine in a few days.